Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has strongly urged the Election Commission of India to take action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly soliciting votes on religious grounds. Thackeray's demand comes following Amit Shah's recent campaign promise in Madhya Pradesh, where he assured voters free pilgrimages to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if they elect the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) again.
Thackeray also referenced an instance earlier this year during the Karnataka Assembly elections, where Modi reportedly urged voters to chant 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai' while casting their votes.
Highlighting the historical context, Thackeray invoked the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, mentioning his coined slogans like 'Garv se kaho hum Hindu hain' and 'Mandir wahin banayenge'. However, he reminded that Balasaheb Thackeray faced a ban on his voting rights for six years due to alleged 'corrupt' electoral practices.
Expressing concern, Thackeray questioned the Election Commission about any changes in their stance since then, raising concerns about perceived double standards in the treatment of the BJP leaders compared to others.
Concurrently, Shiv Sena (UBT) Secretary Anil Desai addressed a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner seeking clarification on the usage of religion in campaigning for the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Desai expressed skepticism over the Election Commission's impartiality, citing instances from various state elections where religious aspects were brought into campaigns.
Thackeray warned that if the Election Commission condones the BJP's use of religious appeals, Shiv Sena (UBT) might also resort to similar strategies, invoking Hindutva or slogans like 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai' and 'Jai Bhavani' in their future campaigns.
The letter to the Election Commission seeks clarity on the commission's stance regarding the use of religion, symbols, idioms, and language in electoral campaigns, emphasizing the need for consistency with past standards set by the ECI.
(With Agency Inputs)
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